Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 24 February 2015 - Ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Orr and his work in Zambia

Reporter: Ron Cooley

Peter Lawrie opened the meeting and Anne Sims said Grace.
Visiting Rotarians
District Governor Michael Proctor
District Governor Elect Rose Bowman (Centrailia Washington)
Leon Bowman (Twin Cities Washington)
Guests                                 Host
Eileen Lavigne               Steve Sharlow
Dr. Malcolm Orr             Club (Speaker)
Sanjay Uppal                 Club ( new member)

Announcements:

• Mary Canty told us that her health had improved now that her flooded house has been repaired. 
• Batya & David Westler sent a note to say their son Roy is improving.
• Perry Bamji brought us up to date on the Shoulder to Shoulder project in Las Varas Mexico (close to Peurto Vallarta). This is a joint project with 25 clubs over 5 Districts plus local parents, students and contractors. The total cost is $159,000 to renovate two schools; a high school and an elementary school. The goal is to increase opportunities for poor students in health care, hospitality and information technology. The renovation on the 40 year old building will include new chemistry, computer and culinary arts laboratories'. This is all possible with the help of Rotary International matching grants.  Remember to Donate to the Rotary Foundation.
• Mike then spoke about the Foundation receiving 4 stars with an efficiency rating of 91% which is a huge selling point for using it as a vehicle for great works. He said that membership in Zone 25 was up 500 members. These are excellent results but pale if you compare it to  Zone 5, in Asia, which was up over 4000 members. Mike stated that a good Website was a very important recruitment tool.
• The end of March is the District Leadership training in Centralia Washington and June 19-21 is the District Conference in Nanaimo.

New Member: 

District Governor Mike Proctor inducted new member Sanjay Uppal and Lori McLeod gave him his new pin.

50/50:

Neil Rawnsley was our Celebrations master. His 1st fine was to Perry for the longest 2 1/2 minute talk in club history.

Joan Firkins was Happy about Dr Jane Goodal and Ziggy Marley's End Polio Now Commercial.

Rotary International Conference in Sao Paulo, June 6-9, 2015, will feature the World Water Summit with a new Sesame Street character who will talk about sanitation. Jessica had sad $10's for being late and missing so many meeting. Joan Firkins had 20 happy $ for 3 weeks in Hawaii. and for being named the 1st woman on the Rotary Foundation Fund Development Committee effective July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2017. Joan Peggs had happy $ for the Rotary Polio Light up and Dinner at the Empress Hotel.

Bob Schelle had 4 happy $'s for his 4th grandchild

Ron Cooley won the draw to popular acclaim and donated it back to the club.

Feb 26, is Sabrina Corraini's 2nd Rotary Anniversary and Tav MacPherson's 13th.

Brian Lamb would have been in Oak Bay Rotary for 40 years on March 1st.

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Malcolm Orr was introduced by Kathleen Arnason.

He grew up in Ottawa and went to Queens University where he met and married his classmate Mary Lindsay. He did his ophthalmology residency at UBC. Mary started a 30 year career with the Cancer Control Agency of BC. They returned to Victoria in 1985. Dr. Sue Wallace tried to involve Dr. Orr in her volunteer work overseas until he could no longer resist. 
He went on his first medical mission to Africa in 2013. The mission was for International Visions Volunteers Canada in Zimba, Zambia, which is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Income is approximately $1 per day. Blindness is one of the most serious problems locals face. 50% of blindness is due to cataracts for which surgery is highly effective. The term Cataracts comes from rushing water where the cataracts are white.  
Team members volunteer their time and pay all of their own travel and accommodation expenses. Most medication and supplies are donated by pharmaceutical companies and transported in big blue bins by volunteers, as luggage. Eye care is provide free of charge. 
Dr. Orr told us that while they have very little in Zambia, they have a thriving bureaucracy. He said that it  is difficult to get people to volunteer. Each team works for 2 weeks. This is a very poor country with few motor vehicles and everyone must walk very long distances for treatment, with their belongings balanced on their heads. Their families come with the patients and wait while they await surgery. They line up early every day for surgery with some wearing tweed jackets.

Surgery is done using techniques unique to the 3rd world, due to the limitations of the equipment and a volunteer keeps insects away with a fly swatter. Most surgery is done with a local anesthetic. General anesthetic is used for more complex surgery but the anesthesiologist must be flown in.

The days are very long but there is immense pleasure derived from seeing patients regain their sight. The volunteers often spend weekends camping and  often one can hear lions and elephants  at night. The pictures of the wildlife were wonderful. The most difficult part of the trip was leaving. One of the goals of International Vision Volunteers is to train local surgeons. In 2014, they had 3,062 cases and conducted 482 surgeries. During a 2 week stint, they would do 10 surgeries a day for 10 days.

Ryan Gisler thanked Dr. Orr for helping us to see the need and how much we can accomplish by donating our time and money. (Editor's note: donations can be made at the IVVC link above.)

MC Peter closed the meeting

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 17 February 2015 - Dr. John Snively's report from Guatemala and Jamie Hammond's talk on Afghanistan

Scribe: Joan Peggs

Greeters: Members, visiting Rotarians and visitors were warmly welcomed by Lynne Murray and Sandy Currie. President  Jim has also playing 'greeter' for a short time!!

Cashier George was eager to relieve you of $21 – in exchange for a green ticket

If you gave Naida  $1 or $2 she gave you the appropriate number of 50/50 tickets in return – and you hoped one was the lucky one.

If you were fortunate, you remembered to 'sign in' to ensure Lynne would register your attendance.

Lots of conversation enlivened the  David Foster Foundation Theatre until President Jim – MC for the first time this year (he was actually quite competent!!) called the meeting to order at 12:15 pm. Reminding us that it is World Understanding month, he acknowledged the important work of the many members involved in overseas projects. He reflected on the presentation of last week (Esther from APU in Malawi now attending Pearson College on a full scholarship) and how our Club's support for this project has made such a difference in her life and how she mentioned she is the hope of her family, her community and her country.

Lynne said grace, members were reminder to allow the visitors to be first in line at the buffet table – fall in behind!!!  Lots of friendly chatter as everyone 'obeyed the procedure' . A good meal of fresh bread, green salad, great medley of sauteed vegetables (yellow beets, asparagus tips, carrots, parsnips, grape tomatoes), mashed potatoes, roast beef and a nice warming soup. Desserts  were particularly appealing – lots of chocolate – perhaps a carryover from Valentine's Day (suited the bulletin scribe just fine!!)

MC President Jim gently asked for our attention at 12:35 pm such that the meeting could carry on

Sandy Currie introduced the visitors.

Visiting Rotarians:

Patricia Feasey – Belleville, ON – Retired (bet she is glad to be here with flowers rather than many feet of snow.)

Allan Neale – Victoria Club on a mentorship visit with

Youssef Bounchid – Victoria Club – a relatively new member of this club

Hillary Brown – Sidney By The Sea  - Commercial Banking

Kara Jenne – Smithers, BC

Marjorie Armason – Gimli, MB – bet she is also glad to be in Victoria!!

Visitors:

Bobby Schafer – guest of Hillary Brown – he might join the club this time round!!

Luis Merino – guest of Pablo Diemecke

Jamie Hammond – guest of the club, guest speaker

They were all greeted with a warm round of applause.

Announcements:

• Janette gave further details on how to donate some of your Aeroplan air miles for the Mardi Gras live auction 'travel package' on 9 May -  click HERE to donate because the target is 50,000 Aeroplan miles!
• Joan P – reminding us of the 110^th birthday of RI on Monday February 23^rd. END POLIO NOW light up at The Fairmont Empress Hotel, 6 – 9 pm. Also a social event – Curry Buffet in the Palm Court area - no host bar at 6 pm and buffet at 6:30 pm. $45/person
• Joan also advised that to date in 2015, only 7 cases of polio have been reported; all in Pakistan. Obviously Nigeria and Afghanistan  are doing their utmost to eradicate the crippling disease. Come and celebrate – this might be the year that polio is 'on the out'!!
• Mary Canty gave an update on the Guatemala projects of John Snively and Jacqueline Mealing.

John's Report: "The general outline of the service is changing/evolving rapidly. For starters, I am now focused on the north shore of the lake in the villages of Tzununa (my home town), Jaibalito to the east and San Marcos to the west. We may extend this to Santa Cruz as well in the coming years. There is no dentist on the north shore to cover at least 20,000 people. By focusing on this smaller area we will be much more effective in education programs around diet/nutrition and hygiene. I have already been approached by 2 pre school teachers to come and examine/treat their children who are riddled with rampant caries to the point of lifelong chronically compromised immune systems and inability to speak/pronounce spanish words due to loss of teeth. It's tragic, and I am being called to render a solution. There is a new "Centro De Salud" being completed this month in Tzununa, the likes of which are not to be found anywhere on the lake. It is amazing!!  I have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health that we establish a home base community dental clinic there and store the clinic until my return in the fall.

This new vision will necessitate that I spend more time in Guatemala in order to coordinate/collaborate with other NGO's and officials to stem the rising tide of not only rampant dental disease (diabetes too) but to re-educate the people to the value of diet/nutrition in not only dental but overall health.

I will undoubtedly become the village dentist and eventually the "north shore dentist". It will take time for all this to unfold but it is "the right thing to do" and embraces in totality the mantra "Service Above Self". I feel blessed.

Please pass along my heartfelt gratitude to the membership for their continued support and I look forward to attending my first luncheon in late May. Hoping you will have plenty of grape juice around for our Friday 'whinings'."

Follow Jacqueline and David Sheppard  re scarves, water project, trees, coming of age party and more on their club's Facebook Page  Jacqueline includes some good photos with the write ups.

Celebrations Master – Lori McLeod.

As Membership Chair Lori called up Tom Croft and Barrie Mutter to receive their special pin for introducing a new member to the club in the past year.

50/50: Many fines were levied as well as members  fining themselves or someone else!!

Cory gave a sad $ due to the end of his 3 year CRD contract which ended recently.

The guest speaker drew the 50/50 ticket. He slowly read  out the winning number, holding all in suspense as he withheld the last digit– it was won by the 'quiet' bulletin scribe. Black marble was drawn. $10.50 for the RI Foundation.

Guest Speaker: 

President Jim called on Steve Sharlow to introduce the guest speaker – Jamie Hammond – Aide-de- Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of BC, the Honourable Judith Guichon. He confided that he applied for this position in a tent in Kabul!

Jamie thanked all Rotary clubs for assisting with the library for First Nations peoples – a project started by Rotarian Blackie of the mainland. The Teen Centre at Oak Bay High School will soon become a library. We are Building Bridges (a RI theme of a few years ago)

Jamie's first posting in Afghanistan was in 2002, a year in duration. He visited numerous times after this, accepting a second posting in 2010 – 2011. Young Canadians in Afghanistan were versatile, friendly (connecting well with villagers and communities). They were there to assist in solving problems.

He stressed the importance of dispelling many myths regarding Afghanistan:

It is all about one religion – it is not. There are many religions in Afghanistan including Christianity

Not an important country – it is. Lapis lazuli is a semi precious stone found there (Tut's tomb was covered in lapis from Afghanistan; precious stones in the crown of Queen Elizabeth are from Afghanistan).

Never been conquered outside the Russian occupation – it has been. Alexander The Great and Ghengis Khan invaded Afghanistan.

He spoke of huge challenges in mobility – the terrain is not mobility friendly!! It is extremely mountainous in some areas but with other areas of flat, fertile plains. Many homes are built into the hillsides. There are 11 different ethnic groups within the country. For the most part, they live together peacefully. The northern areas of the country are the most peaceful. Kandahar and Kabul are statistically areas of high violence although this could be ethnic violence as well as domestic violence.

Due to 30 years of violence and turmoil, there has been a lack of education and a lack of a matriarchal focus. Historically, the majority of the younger population, particularly females, were not educated. Many police are illiterate. The police tend to focus on fighting the Taliban rather than providing the community with support in a typical police role. Historically, there has been much political unrest, and only in 2004 was there the first democratically elected head of state in Afghanistan. The most recent election, in 2014, elected a President from 2 front runners and there are also two vice-Presidents, all working together to improve the country. Mr. Hammond observed that whilst there is much turmoil in the country, Afghans go about their daily activities avoiding the areas of conflict.

There has been a great improvement in the health of the Afghan population and there has been a great improvement in the education level of the young, due to a huge increase in the number of youth attending the schools which have been built.  (By 2013 there were 10.5 million students attending schools in  a country with a population of around 27.5 million people)

Mr. Hammond was thanked by Wynn Taylor and 'presented' with our club Rotary mug – someone went to fetch it!!

Meeting closed by President Jim

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 10 February 2015 - Malawi Girls' School

Reporter: Janna Malo Gisler

Janna, Ryan and their new precious bundle

Photos: Courtesy of Steve Sharlow and David Sills

The meeting was held in the Sports View Lounge of the Oak Bay Rec Center. From our elevated venue, the new climbing wall donated by our Rotary Club, could be seen at the end of the swimming pool where on the previous day, rumour has it that President Jim had taken the inaugural climb. 

Looks like President Jim is demonstrating how he managed to scale the climbing wall. 

Guests: Notable guests introduced by none other than Ronnie C  included: David S, Joey V, Eileen L, Esther M, Christie J and F J, Jean L, Hannah B, Ruby T, Theodora the exporah, Vida Z, Dilnar M, Thrista L, Cloe Parasido, Helena Tyson, Nikki Q and Janet W (dubs). 

Former President Peter urged all in attendance to offer random acts of kindness before Friday at the strole of midnight (as this is R.A.K. week) or warned that they would languish in terror all weekend.

Announcements:

• Heather discussed the "Merrython", which had netted $4,400  and thanked the assistance of Rotaract, Interact, Oak Bay Recreation. She presented $100 to the Interact Club and $500 to the Rotaract club to buy new Dr Scholls odour eaters for participants' running shoes.  
• The club hopes to  offer a flight as one of the prizes at the Mardi Gras' silent auction on 9 May, 2015, and is looking for donations to achieve a total of  50,000 "Aeroplan" miles. (Editor's note: Those with Air Canada frequent flyer  Aeroplan membership or who have an Aeroplan credit card with the CIBC or TD bank can donate air miles. Contact Janette N. to find out how). 
• In Janna's words: "Bwana John who is volunteering in Rwanda, sent a poetic message to the club that hit upon widows, sheltered in a half dozen new homes rehabbed by ROB, abundant veggies from toilet compost, reproductive education and sanitary pad pilot success over the last 8 months and speaking of Bees, the buzz is around John’s travelling companion, an expert beekeeper whose knowledge is providing education and insight for about 20 village locals interested in the topic!
• Mary brought news of the service for local Rotarian, Cam Sprat's wife, Denise, who is 95. Ruby T encouraged all to attend Monday's Interact lunch meetings and Lori presented Membership chair pins to both Neil and Joan." 

  

  Joan is wondering if she has one of these already in her vast collection.

50/50: Happy dollars were given for upcoming trips to Cuba, the Caribbean and for a 90th birthday in Nova Scotia, although it is assumed that the happiness was more for the birthday and less for the east coast travel.  Mary was happy because she was in her own home again rather than staying with friends. Wendy T won the 50/50.

Guest speakers:

In Janna's words: "The Big talk was of the Malawi girls school where Christie Johnson and Esther Mwale presented the story of how a vision lead to donated land and the construction of a school in rural Malawi to better prepare women for leadership roles in communities highly unaccustomed to doing so.

In a program where each girl represents a village and is taught how to be assertive for themselves and understand their role in a new Africa, Esther was able to tell her story, that of two paths, one guided by mentorship, empowerment and opportunity and a second dictated by Tradition, poverty and strife. The story of APU is that of a project sponsored by 56 clubs in 3 districts from a half a world away with one common objective.

Peace"

A graduating class at Malawi Girls' School

Christy in Malawi

Esther

(Editor's note: It was so heart warming to listen to Christie and Esther. Christie Johnson  is the Executive Director of the APU Malawi Education Foundation APU-MEF. The Atsikana Pa Ulendo (Girls on the Move) Malawi Education Foundation was started in 2009 as a society in BC whose purpose as defined in its Constitution is as follows:

1. To advance education in Malawi through the construction and operation of schools, including the provision of uniforms, dormitories, food, clean water and electricity.

2. To advance education in Malawi through the provision of scholarships.

The Malawi Girls' School was founded by Christie Johnson, and Malawian teacher Memory Mdyetseni. It is an all girls secondary school that provides high quality education to 320 students, most of whom are on full scholarship.  Esther had achieved the highest grades of any girl at the school to date when she was awarded a scholarship to attend Pearson College on Vancouver Island. Her moving story of the contrast between her future, because she had been chosen from her village to attend the Malawi Girls' School, and that of a sister, affirmed, at a very personal level, the value of what Rotary achieves in countries where education is beyond the finances of even parents like Esther's, whose Father is a teacher. Her talk was filled with words of appreciation and gratitude, that made being a Rotarian very worthwhile. What incredible achievements!)

Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting 3 February, 2015 - Bipolar Babe

Reporter: Ron Cooley

MC: Peter Lawrie opened the meeting with a talk about February,  Rotary's "World Understanding Month".  The International team will be the MC's for the month.

Rotary has a strong profile on international efforts which promote world understanding, respect, education and well-being. Our most noteworthy profile over the past 27 years is our aim to eliminate polio and we are ever so close. We are also very involved in water projects, education, youth leadership, international scholarships and fellowship.

Blessing: by Will Carter

Visiting Rotarians:  introduced by Pablo Diemecke

Bob Kains,  Canmore, AB (Golf course design)

Jarrod Clayton, Edmonton, AB (Financial Consulting)

Guests: Eileen Lavigne, guest of  Steve Sharlow

Andrea Paquette   (Guest Speaker)                            

Announcements:

Joan Peggs: There will be an End Polio Now  light up Mon Feb 23, 2015 from 6-9 pm on Government St at the Empress Hotel with a curry buffet served at 6:30 pm for $45 pp. Please contact Joan

Heather Aked:Requested Silent Auction Items for the upcoming New Orleans Gala on May 9th. A sign up commitment sheet was passed around. we need donations to make the event a fundraising success.

Sabrina Coraini called for one final sponsor of an Interact student for lunch next week.

Pablo Diemecke: His concert was shown as Feb 14^th but is on Feb 21^st.

Speaker No. 1:

1. President Jim Force spoke about the East Timor Global Grant. The Oak Bay Club along with the Dili, East Timor; Hall, Australia and; the Brainerd, Minnesota Rotary Clubs have been awarded a Rotary Global Grant amounting to $48,597USD for a Healthcare Enhancement project in East Timor in conjunction with the Bairo Pite Clinic in Dili. The grant will supply 240 stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs to Timorese doctors, seven laptops to the clinic and training of four Timorese Community Birthing Assistants. Jim spoke about the challenges of delivering 110 babies per month (one in waist deep water during a flood) and 2500 emergencies a year. The Bairo Pite Clinic provides free healthcare services and has 55 inpatient beds. The clinic was established by Dr. Dan Murphy who is a cousin of President Jim. For information, go to: Bairo Pite Clinic and their Facebook page here 

Celebrations Master:Lori McLeod 

Since President Jim had used up his allotted time and most of Lori's, Lori punished us all for the following reasons: no name badge; not having a guest at our table; arriving late; sitting at the same table s last week; being at the buffet before guests; watching the Superbowl; just watching it at half-time and finally, if you were still sitting and had not paid  a $1 as yet.

Happy/Sad $'s:Neil Madsen Happy Birthday Feb 8^{th ;}Anne McIntyre is happy she is headed to Mexico; Eugen Bannerman is happy to be going to Dublin to visit his 1^st Grandson

The draw was won by our speaker Andrea Paquette

Speaker No. 2:

Vicki Pitt introduced our speaker Andrea Paquette aka "Bipolar Babe" who is the founder and executive director of  the Bipolar Disorder Society of BC.  Andrea is a published author and has written a book titled "My Cursed Gift." She asked us what images come to mind when we think about people with mental health issues and she said that usually they are very negative, inaccurate images; citing some examples. Andrea shared with us her personal story and her challenging journey from dropping out of school at 16 to doing a political science degree; being involved in a political campaign in Ottawa; the highs and lows associated with having a bipolar disorder and; her rewarding trip to South Korea, where she taught English and developed a love for children. Andrea started the  project Bipolar Babe upon her return to Canada. The Bipolar Society of BC is the umbrella organization for the project and has been a non-profit since January 2010, receiving charitable status 6 months later in 29 days. Andrea is working to create a world of understanding for people who have mental illness. She speaks at Rotary and other service clubs and schools, to help erase the stigma, and to show that there is support if you reach out. You can learn more at the Bipolar Babe website and Andrea's blog  Naida Hyde thanked Andrea for her message, and courage to speak out in support of understanding. 

MC Peter Lawrie closed with a toast to the Queen.

Rotary Club of Oak Bay 27 January 2015 - Eradicating polio and Steve Sharlow's funny video

Reporter and photograper: David Sills

MC Steve Sharlow opened the meeting with a pitch for Facebook membership; his second pitch in as many weeks and, promised a short presentation on its use for Rotary members at the end of this meeting. First, he called on Ryan Gisler to say grace. Ryan observed that we all have much to be thankful for especially he and Janna because she gave birth to a son, Garon, barely four hours ago. (Ryan informed the meeting that Garon is a Swedish name said to be akin to the name George.) Congratulations Janna and Ryan!!

 Visitors:
Today’s guests as introduced by Perry Bamji:
Our Guest Speaker Alice McLaggan; Ron Nelson, guest of Jim Force and Eileen Lavigne, guest of Steve Sharlow

Announcements:
Mary Canty advised that Renate Gibbs underwent foot surgery and will be laid up for six     to eight weeks. She was outfitted with a pink cast for the duration.
Jim Force asked members to sponsor a student to lunch for our February 10th meeting.
Vicki Pitt advised that our Oak Bay Rotary Foundation will accept air mile points from the Aeroplan’s ‘Beyond Miles’ program. 
Kathleen Arnason forwarded thanks from the Rotaract Club for our support of their Burger and Beer Night fund raiser last week at Maud Hunter’s Pub where they raised approximately $600.
Jim Force awarded a ‘Light Up’ pin to Ron Cooley for his work with the Merrython event.
Joan Firkins advised that Mardi Gras tickets are now available

James Bond aka Jack Petrie  (our Sgt–at-Arms sans a white dinner jacket)

Candid Camera has come to Oak Bay. An amusing slide show, complete with sub-titles, highlighted the antics of many members caught on camera during recent club meetings. Sadly, there were no fines levied for their appearances. However President Jim was fined twice, for taking two parking spaces at Maud Hunters and for misplacing Ryan’s name tag. Happy/sad dollars were paid by Neil Madsen for his encounter with a squirrel which came down his chimney. He tried in vain to catch it with a fishing net while Laura merely opened the door and shooed the poor creature outdoors.  More dollars from Vicki Pitt who was happy to be away from the Maritimes because of the recent storms. Also $s from Bill Burns and Joan Firkins who were happy to be leaving Victoria for vacations, he to the Bahamas and she to Hawaii . Birthday congratulations were extended to Steve Sharlow.

Guest Speakers on The Eradication Of Polio

This meeting is a lead up to the END POLIO NOW light up scheduled for February 23 at the Empress Hotel. We had two speakers today, Alice McLaggan, a polio victim in 1944, and Kathleen Arnason, a nurse who worked in the polio ward at The Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg in the 1970’s.
Joan Firkins introduced Alice who spoke about her memories of contracting polio while at boarding school in India. Alice was born in India and was educated in Calcutta, Darjeeling and Simla. She completed her education in Edinburgh and moved to Canada in 1955. She and husband Bill lived in Ottawa for 26 years, then retired to Victoria in 1998.

Alice shared her memories of contracting infantile paralysis, now known as polio, at 15 years of age. For two days she lay in bed with spinal pain. On the third day, her left side collapsed and she could not get up. She was taken by stretcher, to the hospital where the resident doctors confirmed she had contracted polio. There was no need for an iron lung which was fortunate, given that none were available, however her left side was paralyzed, from the waist down. She was eventually transported to England, no mean feat in itself given the wartime demands on shipping and she made a full recovery.
Kathleen spoke of her experience as a young student nurse in Winnipeg, where she served with five other student nurses in the iron lung ward at the hospital. Her special care was a young police officer. For the first week she was overwhelmed by the ominous presence of these six iron lung machines and the overpowering smell permeating the ward. By the end of the second week, the smell disappeared and she saw things differently as she observed her patient quietly coping with his affliction. As Kathleen put it, “polio gifted me”. For the most part, vaccines have replaced the iron lung in the treatment of polio. However Alice warned that it is not over yet so make sure that you get your shots.  Alice and Kathleen were thanked by Phil Neroutsos who remarked that he had moved to Montreal in 1945 and clearly remembered the polio epidemic which raged through the city.

And Now - That promised Facebook Video: In closing the meeting, Steve presented a video prepared by the Nepean Kanata Rotary Club which highlighted a special fundraiser initiated during his year as President to support the Kanata Food Cupboard. Club members were urged to support the project by pledging so much per pound, that President Steve lost, during the Rotary year. The project raised approximately $14,200 due to the number of people who pledged and Steve's efforts.  To read about the project and watch the video, please click  HERE    (Editor's note: What a great idea for raising funds and what a good sport is Steve Sharlow, who wrote the song.)